ABC’s 10-episode murder mystery series, which shot its pilot episode in and around a Porters Neck neighborhood in March, will begin filming nine additional episodes on Thursday, July 24.

On Tuesday, the series’ cast, including Ryan Phillippe, Juliette Lewis, Kadee Strickland and Natalie Martinez, will reunite for the first time since shooting the pilot for a table read of episode two.

“Secrets and Lies,” based on the Australian series of the same name, follows Ben (Phillippe), a family man who he stumbles upon the body of a young neighborhood boy while out for a morning run. As the media and the police swarm in for answers, Ben’s life is quickly turned upside down when he arises as the prime suspect in the eyes of Detective Carroll (Lewis). Fighting rumors and public scrutiny, Ben takes it upon himself to find the real killer before he goes down for the murder.

Production on the show’s first season is expected to run through Thanksgiving.

In May, the network announced that “Secrets and Lies” will air 10 p.m. Thursdays, following the network’s red-hot drama “Scandal,” beginning next spring.

Britt Robertson, seen here in the pilot episode of the locally filmed series “Under the Dome,” has been cast in “The Longest Ride,” based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. The film begins production in Wilmington in June. — CBS photo

“Under the Dome’s” Britt Robertson won’t have to take a long ride to star in her next movie.

The 24-year-old actress has been cast as the female lead in “The Longest Ride,” the latest Nicholas Sparks adaptation, which is set to beginning filming in Wilmington this June.

Deadline reports that Robertson will play Sophia Danko, a senior at Wake Forest College who falls in love with Luke Collins, a bull rider, played by the recently cast Scott Eastwood. Mere miles away from the site of their love story, Ira, a 91-year-old man trapped in a car crash reflects on his own love story with his late wife, Ruth.

The film is the fifth to be filmed in Wilmington, following last year’s “Safe Haven,” 2008′s “Nights in Rodanthe,” 2001′s “A Walk to Remember” and 1999′s “Message in a Bottle.”

On “Under the Dome,” which premieres its second season 10 p.m. June 30, Robertson plays Angie, who, in the show’s first season, was held captive by her ex-boyfriend Junior (Alexander Koch), only to escape and learn she played a part in unlocking the secrets of the dome.

Recently, the busy actress, a Charlotte native, appeared opposite Vince Vaughn in the comedy “Delivery Man.” Next, she will be seen in Disney’s sci-fi epic “Tomorrowland” alongside George Clooney and set for release next year. Currently, she is filming “Cake,” with Jennifer Aniston in Los Angeles.

Directed by George Tillman Jr., “The Longest Ride” already has a release date of April 3, 2015.

Robertson isn’t the only “Under the Dome” star to recently take on another Wilmington-based role. Natalie Martinez, who plays Sheriff Linda Esquivel on the summer series, filmed a part in the ABC pilot “Secrets & Lies,” which shoot in March.

“Game of Thrones'” Oona Chaplin as joined “The Longest Ride,” set to start filming in Wilmington in June. — AP photo

UPDATE: The Wrap is reporting that Oona Chaplin, who recently starred on HBO’s hit series “Games of Thrones,” has joined “The Longest Ride” as Ruth, the deceased wife of Ira, the elderly man who reflects on his life as he is trapped in a car crash. Ruth survived WWII and collected paintings with Ira.

During her stint on “Game of Thrones,” Chaplin played Talisa, the pregnant wife of Robb Stark (Richard Madden), who (SPOILER!) became a victim of the now-infamous Red Wedding episode.

Chaplin previously appeared in the James Bond installment “Quantum of Solace” and can currently be seen in the BBC series “The Crimson Field.”

“Private Practice’s” KaDee Strickland will trade in her scrubs for the small-town life in ABC’s upcoming pilot, “Secrets & Lies,” which is set to begin shooting in Wilmington Feb. 28.

The crime drama series follows Ben Garner (Ryan Phillippe), whose life is thrown into turmoil when he discovers the body of a 4-year-old neighbor and becomes the prime suspect in the young boy’s murder.

First reported by Deadline, Strickland will star as Ben’s wife, Christy, whose feelings towards her husband are complicated by the accusations against him.

Strickland is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Charlotte King on “Private Practice” for the show’s entire six-season run. She has also appeared in films such as “Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid,” “The Grudge” and “Fever Pitch.”

Joining the Garner household alongside Strickland is young actress Belle Shouse, who has signed on to play Ben and Christy’s daughter, Abby.

Strickland and Shouse are the latest to join the show’s growing cast that also includes the previously announced Juliette Lewis as Detective Cornell and “Under the Dome’s” Natalie Martinez as the victim’s grieving mother.

The pilot, which has a 10-episode penalty from the network, will be directed by “Desperate Housewives'” Charles McDougall.

Actress Juliette Lewis will star in ABC’s upcoming pilot “Secrets & Lies,” set to film in Wilmington later this month. — AP photo

When ABC’s new drama “Secrets & Lies” rolls into town to film its pilot later this month, there will be an Oscar nominee in tow.

TVLine reports that Juliette Lewis, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 1991 Oscars for her role in “Cape Fear” (ironically, not shot in the region), has joined the cast of the mystery series that also stars “I Know What You Did Last Summer’s” Ryan Phillippe and “Under the Dome’s” Natalie Martinez.

The series will follow Ben Garner (Phillippe), a family man who stumbles across the body of his 4-year-old neighbor and becomes the prime suspect in the boy’s murder. Desperate to clear his name and save his crumbling family, he sets out to find the real killer.

Lewis will play Detective Cornell on show, which already has a 10-episode order from the network. This will mark her return to the area after stopping in to film “Hick” in 2011.

Last week, it was announced that Martinez, who currently plays Sheriff Linda on “Under the Dome,” which also shoots in Wilmington, will appear as the boy’s grieving mother.

Most recently, Lewis starred in family drama “August: Osage County” alongside Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Next, she will be seen in Fox’s upcoming summer series “Wayward Pines” from M. Night Shyamalan.

The pilot for “Secrets & Lies'” will be directed by “Desperate Housewives'” Charles McDougall.

To apply to be an extra on “Secrets & Lies,” register at extrassignup.com.

What better way to end the first season of a show about people who are trapped without food, water or electricity and logically aren’t going to last much longer, than with a cliffhanger hinged on aliens and pink light?… Read More »

About This Blog

Hi! My name is Hunter Ingram and I’m the film/TV reporter for StarNews Media. I will be the primary blogger for WilmonFilm, but other staffers, including Community Engagement Editor Jeff Hidek and freelance reporter Brian Tucker, are likely to contribute from time to time.

With this blog, I aim to be Southeastern North Carolina’s go-to source for all things film and TV. Wilmington and its surrounding areas are rich with intriguing projects, from the big-budget blockbusters to the small-scale, high-impact independent films. I will post everything from breaking news to offbeat features that will cover every facet of the entertainment news emerging from the area. So bookmark this page and be on the lookout every day for new posts!

While we may be hard at work reporting on the stories we get, we also want your tips, reactions and ideas. Got a story idea that is itching to be heard? E-mail or call me! Want to say something about a post? Leave a comment.